News
Brantford-Brant

No sale: Arrowdale, Earl Haig to stay in municipal hands

Tony DeBruyn, who has been helping lead the campaign to save Arrowdale Municipal Golf Course, answers a question from city Coun. Richard Carpenter on Monday during a special committee of the whole meeting at city hall. (Brian Thompson/The Expositor)

An intense four-month public campaign, which included knocking on doors and demonstrating in sub-zero temperatures, paid off on Monday.

Members of the Save Arrowdale Action Committee applauded, shook hands and hugged each other after city councillors voted in favour of maintaining ownership of the Arrowdale Municipal Golf Course.

They also voted in favour of including improvements to both Arrowdale, a nine-hole course, and Northridge Municipal Golf Course, an 18-hole municipal course, in the city's 10-year capital forecast. The recommendation will come before council for final approval at an upcoming meeting.

And councillors also also voted in favour of keeping Earl Haig Family Fun Park, a city-owned and -operated asset.

"This is great," Tony DeBruyn, of the Save Arrowdale Action Committee, said following the vote.

"We're pleased with council's decision and we're committed to working with city staff to make improvements at the course.

"We have a lot of ideas that I think they're going to listen to and hopefully we'll be able to incorporate some of them to make Arrowdale better for everyone."

DeBruyn was one of three people to speak in favour of the city maintaining ownership and control of Arrowdale at Tuesday's special meeting. The other two options under consideration included the outright sale of the nine-hole course for residential development and selling or leasing it to a third-party and have it continue to operate as a golf course.

In his presentation, DeBruyn talked about ways of improving the use of Arrowdale including the introduction of Frisbee golf to the golf course. Both forms of golf could co-exist at Arrowdale, he told councillors.

DeBruyn also read a letter from Scott Simmons, the CEO of Golf Canada.

Simmons, a Brantford native, has strong attachments to both Northridge and Arrowdale.

"I grew up playing at Northridge Municipal Golf Course as a junior and also hold fond memories of time spent at Arrowdale," Simmons said in his letter.

He said that both Northridge and Arrowdale are critical components of the Brantford golf community.

He also spoke about the impact golf can have on the culture of communities, such as Brantford.

"Golf as a sport is good for our children, instilling etiquette and values such as integrity, honesty, fair play and the spirit of camaraderie," Simmons said.

Simmons attended Monday's meeting to listen to the debate and support the Save Arrowdale Action Commmittee.

During the debate, several councillors noted the passion the people brought to the debate over Arrowdale.

"We had people in -20C weather in front of the Sanderson Centre demonstrating in support of Arrowdale," said Coun. Richard Carpenter.

"We had people knocking on doors. People have a right to these assets and we should be protecting them, not selling them.

"It's our responsibility to protect and maintain these assets."

Ward 3 Coun. Greg Martin was the only councillor to vote against keeping Arrowdale as a city-owned and operated facility. He told councillors he preferred another option - that is selling or leasing Arrowdale to the private-sector..

All councillors voted to keep Earl Haig, except Larry Kings, who was absent.